Cable-stretcher for ballast-unloaders.



W. H. YAWGER. CABLE STRETOHER FOR BALLAST UNLOADERS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1911.

Patented Feb. 27, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPl-l 120., WASHINGTON, n. c.

pairs STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. YAWGER, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE MARION STEAM SHOVEL COMPANY, OF MARION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CABLE-STRETCHER FOR BAL-LAST-UNLOADERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed .Tu1y 10, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. YAWGER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Montreal, in the county of Hochelaga and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cable-Stretchers for Ballast- Unloaders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to cable stretchers for ballast unloaders.

In the operation of an ordinary ballast unloader, the unloader is placed at one end of a train of loaded ballast cars and is con nected by means of a cable with a power operated winch carried by a car at the opposite end of the train. The taking up of the' cable by the winch draws the unloader over the cars and unloads the ballast therefrom. When this operation has been completed the unloader is allowed to remain upon the last car unloaded, and is placed on a side track to await the arrival of another train of loaded ballast cars. The car carrying the winch may also be placed on the siding or it may be coupled into the train. In the former case as soon as the train arrives alongside of the unloader the car carrying the winch is coupled into the train ahead of the first ballast car. The train is then pulled forward and the car carrying the unloader coupled to the rear end thereof. It is necessary that the cable should be unwound from the winch, carried over the loaded cars and connected to the unloader. This is usually accomplished by a gang of men taking hold of the end of the cable, which is of steel, and twisting the same about a telegraph pole or other fixed object, prior to the forward movement of the train, whereby the movement of the car will unwind the cable.

The object of the present invention is to facilitate this unwinding or stretching of the steel cable and to provide means, carried by the unloader itself, which can be connected to the cable and will hold the same as the car carrying the winch is moved forward, thus unwinding the cable from the winch. This: device is preferably of such a character that it will extend over the loaded cars and will stretch the cable over these cars.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a device which can be folded alongside of the unloader where it will be out of the way and will not interfere with the normal operation thereof and which can also be operated with equal facility upon either side of the unloader.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a ballast unloader equipped with my invention; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention and have shown the same as applied to a ballast unloader of a well known construction. This unloader as here shown comprises a plow 1 and apilot 2 arranged in advance of the plow. Mounted on the unloader is a suitable device to which the end of the cable may be connected and which preferably extends laterally from the unloader to a point above the loaded train, which stands along side of the unloader. In the present instance this device comprises an arm 3 pivotally mounted on a vertical axis on the forward portion of the pilot. This arm is of such a length that when in a position transverse to the length of the unloader it will extend some distance beyond the side thereof and to a point near the center of the main track alongside of which the unloader stands. This arm is held against forward movement about its vertical axis beyond a certain point by means of a brace, such as a chain 4, connected at one end to the arm near its outer end and at the other end to a part of the unloader, preferably the rear end of the plow.

The outer end of the arm is adapted to have the cable connected thereto and is here shown as having a clevis 5 to facilitate this connection. When the arm is in its laterally extending position its outer end extends above the loaded cars and the forward movement of the train will cause the cable to be unwound from the winch and to stretch above the cars in the position in which it must operate. \Vhen the cable has been stretched it is detached from the arm and the latter is folded above or alongside of the unloader, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It will be apparent that the arm can be readily swung to either side of the unloader and operated with equal facility. The arm is also preferably mounted on a horizontal axis, as indicated at 6, to enable the outer end thereof to be raised to clear obstructions or for other purposes. The arm is supported normally in such a position as to prevent the outer end thereof coming in contact with the load on the cars by means of brackets 7, one of which is arranged on each side of the pivotal center of the arm.

The operation of the device has been fully explained in connection with the foregoing description of the device itself and it will be apparent that I have provided a simple but efficient device for unwinding the cable and stretching the same over the loaded cars of a ballast train; that this device is of such a character that it can be folded into a position in which it will not interfere with the normal operation of the unloader; and that it can be operated with equal facility on either side of the unloader.

WVhile I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention it will be understood that this is chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of an arm mounted thereon and adapted to be connected to one end of a cable.

2. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm movably mounted thereon and adapted to have its outer end connected to a cable.

8. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm mounted thereon and projecting beyond the side thereof.

a. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm mounted thereon to move about a vertical axis and projecting beyond the side thereof.

5. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm mounted thereon to move about a vertical axis and projecting beyond the side thereof, and means to hold said arm against movement in one direction about said vertical axis.

6. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm mounted thereon to move about a horizontal axis.

7. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm mounted thereon to move about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

8. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm mounted thereon to move about a horizontal axis,

and means to support said arm substantially in a predetermined position.

9. The combination, with a ballast unloader, of a laterally extending arm mounted thereon and movable about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis, and means to retain said arm substantially in a predetermined position with respect to both of said axes.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. YAWGER.

Witnesses:

N. E. ANDERSON, P. H. HOPKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

